What has your audiophile experience taught you about yourself?

@elizabeth 
I thought your 6/23 8:42AM post one of the more remarkable things I've read here...and I mean that in a good way.  Thanks for writing it.  Apology accepted!  even though I personally haven't felt attacked.  Would that other writers practiced a little introspection and self-criticism.  On balance, I generally enjoy and benefit from your grounded and unpretentious approach to audio.  Yes, the "suffer no fools" attitude is a bit strong at times but not unwarranted in many cases.  There are a few consistently solid contributors to these threads.  You are definitely one of them (at least in my mind).  

Good points from all. A short story-
I once had a friend (soldier buddy) who went to many of the same mobilizations and countries that I did. He had commented on the food, women, houses, clothes behavior of the people from all the places he visited stating America is so much better in all areas. He made very critical judgements, often stating facts. I mentioned he was exeriencing “ethnocentrism” and it was common for soldiers to do this when traveling abroad. I found over the years he was not interested in being introspective or learning much from others. He was sure about everything he knew about himself and the greater, bigger world around him. I often think about him when I read some comments made by audiophiles. We all can grow and learn, if we want to. If we see the education in that process and the benefit it can provide.

@elizabeth 
It is not you. There are people on this site who are often wrong but never uncertain. They are smarter than everyone else, never test there theories and will not let facts interfere with their opinions. 

After some contemplation, I realized when I wrote:                   
" That posting anything is like yelling out on a street corner at 2AM next to a bar full of drunks:",Hey! lets all have a fight! "
That some folks just have to tell you what you did wrong, and what you should have done, even is all you are doing is saying you bought something.      
That no matter what you write, someone is going to totally vehemently disagree with you.
That some folks are going to tell you your own experiences have no meaning, because they have this theory... And they know it is right, and that your experience is totally confused rubbish, because hey! they know their theory is right, right! ""                                         
I realize that I am writing ABOUT MYSELF, and my own actions. The dark side, the shadow side.So I apologize to everyone whom I have attacked, insulted, and generally annoyed the heck out of.

The only important criteria is emotional involvement. Specs are meaningless. 

Integrating the room and the speakers is critical. 

Not all all equipment using the same components sounds the same. Implementation is everything. I am paying for intellectual property, not components. 

The front-electronics and amps are as or more important than speakers. 

Technology continues to improve the quality of components. 

+1 @jond. 

+1 @elizabeth

Elizabeth you are totally wrong about posting on audio sites! Totally! :p

I thought I would post what being an audiophile and posting on audio sites has taught me. That posting anything is like yelling out on a street corner at 2AM next to a bar full of drunks:",Hey! lets all have a fight! "
That some folks just have to tell you what you did wrong, and what you should have done, even is all you are doing is saying you bought something.      
That no matter what you write, someone is going to totally vehemently disagree with you.
That some folks are going to tell you your own experiences have no meaning, because they have this theory... And they know it is right, and that your experience is totally confused rubbish, because hey! they know their theory is right, right!

That I'm blessed to be alive at this particular point in time. There is so much music available to us right now!  

"What has your audiophile experience taught you about yourself?     That I love music. Music is a balm to sooth my soul.                 
Particularly since I am now retired and I have something to 'do' every day all day no matter what else might be troubling me or causing problems.   The equipment is a fun hobby, and a way to keep my bank account small enough I do not have to worry someone might rob me!   The various sites about audio also keep me busy. And they let me know I am still quick to anger, quick to want to retaliate, and also quick to try to not be such a jerk. Keeping my wits sharp to discuss stuff ,as so many are so full of sh'et and love to argue about the equivalent of how many angels can dance on the head of a pin, all ten billion variations..  LOL      And recognizing that even though I think I know it all, I can easily make mistakes, and have to strength to admit them.  (yes Geoff, I HAVE had my wires backwards, and do not care!.)

Great question.

I eventually learnt not to trust magazine reviews or anyone with a vested interest.

I used to look down on pro/industry gear thinking domestic stuff was better. I tend to feel the opposite nowadays.

I learnt that there is no such thing as a definitive recording. Even if the recording remains the same, it's unlikely that the room and the system will. It's definite that you the listener won't. It just isn't possible to hear records the same way we did originally. Still we keep trying.

I have learnt that Hi-Fi is not everything. Hey, even music is not everything, believe it or not!  For me tone is the best drug out there, but there's also a whole world out there too.

I even learnt to love Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Bill Evans, Jazz, Instrumentals, and even Classical. 20 years ago I couldn't imagine such a thing. That kind of stuff just seemed too boring then.
I must be slowing down, in a good way.

I was always a lyrics man and music second, now it's 50/50.

One thing hasn't changed, I still love the Beatles.

I've been at this a very long time, but it took me much too long to trust my own ears.  
An upgrade isn't necessarily an upgrade... 

A Ton of great people who know their stuff
A ton of know it alls that know very little

My 3 best friends are audiophiles,  Audiophiles make great friends. 

Do the research
Learn to differentiate between value and hype
Enjoy the music
Be polite to hi-fi comrades
Subjectivity and objectivity are slippery concepts

Trust your ears...
Keep an open mind...
Insist on return privileges!

Funniest thread I've read in a while. And I think it's all true. Lol

And I also think we're all nuts. In the best way possible of course. Lol

What have I learned? That it's a good thing, or a bad thing I don't have a wife. Depending on how you look at it. And that we're very similar to crack addicts. I was told once that a crack addict can have a tractor trailer full of crack, and it's still not enough. We're the same way. All the money, and gear in the world doesn't insure our happiness. Only enjoying our little piece of crack (gear) will do so. I think we all have an addictive/impulsive personality. We've just chosen a different drug is all. 

Ive learned that even if i spend a million dollars on a system that i probably will not be satisfied. (If i had a million dollars to spend on a system). And always think something is better out there to get me to my live music. 

That if I frequent a room enough; a music system will end up in there. This phenomena has not changed since my teenage years.
My wife keeps me in the basement at home.

Also
These days in helping out audio friends, very satisfying trying to make the most enjoyable music rooms from the least amount of dollars.
The plethora of used gear allows for this.

and

For me during summer months it is healthy to step away from Audiophilia and this site; Music becomes nature and those songs that go well with a campfire, and some beers.
  
Only to find year after year, that once the cold weather starts setting in, and I am for the most part inside most of the time in the evening ....

that here I am again.
   
It was 30 Celsius outside today - just checking in :^)

As soon as I think I have this audiophile phenomenon figured out, a new revelation tells me how wrong I am.  This hobby can be humbling.  Perhaps a good thing...

you told her! lol 

It's pretty hard to win an arguement over money with the wife after "you spent $1000 on a NEEDLE!"

I shoulda made making money a higher priority than I did. Too late now!

I learned life is so short.  Two of my top audio buddies have died in the last 6 months.  My close audio buddy died today.  We actually have similar audio systems.  Wow. This has taught me to enjoy my audio within reason. Have balance and remember it's always music first!

 mewsickbuff
     I was that guy in late 80s-90s  1-9 shift (our hours lol) .We had a brick building that was hard to find and it was a blast. we sold the ole' Stax headphones .The Discerning Ear .BaltimoreMd. (gone with the times)

#1     I learned after getting so many loaners from reps etc.The price has
          little to do with it's sound or quality  (within reason).
#2      How many times I believed what people told me and was                                
          disapointed
#3      How cool so many guys are ,and how many pompass asses there  
          are.
#4      One mans floor is anothers ceiling
#5      How much music I have been turned onto 
#6      Just when I thought I knew so much, someone knows way more.                  
          so be quiet and listen
#7     Refer to # 3

I wish for the old days when you could drive a few miles from your home to a brick and mortar building and audition many different components in the flesh. It took 5 pairs of headphones, (all ordered somewhere online and recommended by others) before I found the 6th pair I call my ear-mates.

The HE-6's make me smile each time I put them on my head. I've realized (through the purchase of several warm items-HP's & amp) I don't like anything that leans toward the warm side of neutral UNLESS I can find something else to neutralize it. I have a warm HP amp, but it's a perfect match for the HE-6's.   

There's nothing wrong with searching for "Your sound." But once you find it, be happy and ENJOY it! Don't let other people's negativity change your satisfaction into dissatisfaction.

lostinmusic10 posts07-07-2016 7:29am

1) That it is ok to cry when listening to a piece of music

I wept openly the first time I heard Keith Jarrett in Koln through my all tube system

I wept when I first heard Tom Waits "Small Change" album. I felt that spirit of Luis Armstrong in his tunes! 

To be honest with yourself.

Enjoy your system while you are here.  Tomorrow is not promised!

There's no fool like an old fool!

"How much bias everyone, including myself, is capable of. I used to be easily lead by subjective reviews, my audiophile friends' enthusiasm or my want for a particular piece of equipment to be "better", either because of the hype or it looked more expensive. But a couple of blind tests cured me of all that ... and saved me a bit of money as well."

smittyjs- yes I agree with this, very much so.

How much bias everyone, including myself, is capable of. I used to be easily lead by subjective reviews, my audiophile friends' enthusiasm or my want for a particular piece of equipment to be "better", either because of the hype or it looked more expensive. But a couple of blind tests cured me of all that ... and saved me a bit of money as well.

Science!!!   I chortle. 

Unfortunately I have learned that I cannot tolerate inferior sound almost anywhere I go.  In other posts on the site I've mentioned how I have set up my girlfriend's house;  Marantz 2250b receiver,  Meadowlark Kestrels,  Pro-Ject TT and Marantz cd player in her living room,  Pioneer SX 1050 receiver and Usher bookshelves in the bedroom - both because she had gawdawful all-in-ones with cassette players previously.

Now I'm no fool when it comes to appreciating music in any setting.  An am/fm mono radio on the beach will do just fine,  and has for many,  many years.  I still remember hearing The Allman Brothers "Eat A Peach" on the beach through my older brother's Grundig radio and it was glorious.  

When music reaches out it ain't never the equipment...

I just bought a Geneva Model M all-in-one fm/ipod thingy for her kitchen because she has this nasty am/fm/cd/cassette player in white that has yellowed to the point of no return.  (I had this product before and it's far better than what she has.  Personally I prefer Peachtree Deepblue2 for outdoors.)  I'm not telling her about it,  I'm simply going to switch them out and wait for her reaction.  

Being in the wine business I have found that this hobby is as subjective and confounding as my livelihood.  I've had all the wines you can imagine in my tenure, and then some.  The first growths,  the cult wines,  the garage wines.  I've listened to vintners,  experts,  sommeliers,  Masters Of Wine,  the whole megillah,

Sometimes a glass of wine is just a glass of wine...and should be.  I remember how utterly mind-blowing a late 60's vintage of Beaulieu Vineyards Georges de Latour Cabernet Sauvignon tasted one night amidst a gaggle of wine freaks,  but I remember with equal fervor that bottle of Lancer's Rosè I knocked back with Mary Beth one moonlit night on the beach waaaaay back when.

Sometimes the Allman Brothers sound great out of a crappy radio on the beach,  sometimes on the gear I have in my living room.

I must confess...I actually had a Bose Wave radio in my office once,

Laughing....

Don_c55
"That 95% of all audiophiles are not rational, and unscientific fools!"

Thats what you learned about yourself???

don_c55
570 posts
07-11-2016 4:31am
That 95% of all audiophiles are not rational, and unscientific fools!

I dislike judging before all the facts are in but it appears you didn't get the memo that 95% of all audio is irrational.

cheers

That 95% of all audiophiles are not rational, and unscientific fools!

I have low impulse control.

I love music and gear EQUALLY!  .... and that's OK.
We love music as an art form.... but good gear is an expression of art too.  Ask anyone who designs or builds it.  I admire of the form, function,  and beauty of good speakers and electronics.  I like to interact with my equipment and my music.  I like equalizers.... really good mastering equalizers..... because not all music that I like has been mastered equally.  I tend not to like most "audiophile" music.   

I very much dislike the trend of boxes with too few knobs... or worse, no knobs at all!   Walk up to a stereo from the 70's-80s, and any idiot could operate it..... most new equipment today has a just a couple multi-function knobs or buttons.... you need the manual to get any sound out of it.   I want to flog the industrial designers of today!!  

I like to turn knobs that affect sound.... that's what I know about me.
.... and that's OK.

That there is too much gear and not enough money!

I am gratified to have a  cultured hobby that appreciates my intellectual and emotional presence while keeping me grounded in my reality.  

Audiophile: anal retentive sonic improvement high IQ enigmatic individuals! Please submit this to Webster dictionary!

All great comments and relate to them all.  It's more of a journey than a destination, a lot worse things you can spend your money on....  ;o) 

It's taught me that I'm an audio nut! I'm OCD big time. Some of this stuff just ain't worth it. It should be always about the music first. Enjoy what you have instead of the stuff you don't. 

What it most definitely has taught me is that any person who has any intention of reproducing sound similar to a concert hall event in their home while evaluating  high end audio equipment must use classical programme material; anything else is laughable... You're just fooling yourself . You might as well get another hobby!!

Oh, and another critical lesson that is often not easily or quickly learned:

Be TRUTHFUL with yourself, REALLY know your priorities, and set goals accordingly.

Great comments. Very interesting. Yes Chayro that one made me laugh. Have not purchased any audio in over two years, wife luvs this and told me we don't need a " musical subwoofer". What does she know about subwoofers?

That I love music and understanding the technology well enough to make proper  choices to help assure the music sounds as good as it can as well.